IN the Craven League Skipton LMS occupy top spot in the Premier Division thanks to a 3-2 win over neighbours Skipton Town.

Goals by Luke Krelle (2) and Paul Ryder gave LMS a 3-1-interval lead and generally were in control until Town snatched a second goal ensuring a nervy last ten minutes.

Second placed Cononley drew 4-4 each with visitors Clitheroe Lions, a fortnight's lay-off affected the home side who found themselves three goals down at half-time thanks to some poor defending.

Within five minutes of the new half Cononley had reduced the deficit to one but Clitheroe increased the lead before Cononley piled on the pressure to draw level and could with better finishing have taken all three points. Geoff Slater, Chris Lumsden and Andrew Hudson with a brace were on target.

Two other games also ended all square, Embsay and Grassington United sharing a 1-1 draw. Adam Steventon giving the visitors the lead before Embsay got going and missed several chances before Stephen Speak was on hand to level matters in a match well refereed by Ian Walsh.

A late WFC Clitheroe goal minutes from the end denied Gargrave an away win. Nick Kendall was impressive for Gargrave. Scorers were Paul Wilkin and Tom Varey.

Bradley, still winless after five matches, were beaten 4-0 by visitors Hellifield. Missing five regulars Hellifield took the lead through Sam Gray and then had to withstand Bradley pressure that found Thomas Galloway in the Hellifield goal in good form.

Hellifield played some good one touch football, which led to further goals from George Oglowdandy (2) and James Hordern. Full marks for the players who stepped up from the reserves.

Grindleton lead Division One along with Oakworth who had a comprehensive 8-1 win at Cowling. Grindleton beat Gargrave Reserves 5-3 in a entertaining game at Gargrave. A clinical header from Matt Brennand gave Gargrave the lead only for Grindleton to level matters and take the lead through a gifted goal. Christain Moon equalised early in the second-half but Grindleton weathered the storm and regained the lead and a penalty looked to have made the game safe for them but Gargrave pressure saw Ben Brown score and after the same player had a penalty appeal turned down Grindleton sealed the game when they were awarded another penalty which was converted.

Rolls Royce doubled their points tally with 3-2 win at Keighley FC. The home side took the lead but Rolls levelled from the spot following deliberate handball. Jason Wright scored from the spot and his superb run down the wing resulted in him scoring with a well-placed shot. He was replaced by sub Chris Owen who soon got on the scoresheet.

The home side pulled a goal back to ensure a few anxious moments in the Rolls defence before victory was sealed.

Carleton moved off the bottom of the table with a 5-3 home win over ten men Intake.

Trawden Celtic lead Division Two and inflicted another defeat on Rolls Royce Reserves 4-0. Rolls gave a good account of themselves in the first half but after conceding a controversial second goal their heads dropped and ended a well-beaten team.

Earby Town dominated their game against Skipton Town Reserves with an 8-2 win. Jay Farrell and Paul Oldroyd gave them a early two goal lead and the impressive Wayne Hooper and Farrell added further goals before James Oldroyd made it five with Skipton pulling a goal back with a converted penalty. In the second half Paul Oldroyd and Hooper scored and a own goal made up the tally before Skipton hit their second.

Embsay Reserves beat Skipton LMS 4-0 as LMS struggled to raise a team while Cononley Reserves drew at Grassington with 52-year-old Bob Akrigg scoring for Cononley. Regrettably Cononley had a player dismissed and a club official sent from the field following comments to the referee. In a fiery encounter Horton lost at home to Pendle Renegades. Rob Jackson scored the home goal.

Leaders of Division Three Silsden Whitestar lost at home to Barnoldswick Barons by 4-0 who are now top while Settle United Reserves won again defeating Grindleton Reserves by 5-1 to move into second place. The older visitors defence were no match for the quick forwards of Settle whose goals were scored by Mark Loughlin (2) Lee Walker, Michael Towler and Mark McGoldrick.

Cowling Reserves won 4-3 at Oakworth Reserves while Earby Town Reserves defeated Bradley Reserves 7-1. Ashley Day opened the scoring quickly followed by John Coates and Town's dominance paid off with further goals by Shane Bailey and Coates before Bradley scored just before the break. It was virtually one-way traffic as Earby peppered the visitors goal and when sub Karl Farrell appeared he scored two goals, one with a class header and Bailey's second with a crisp shot ended the scoring.

Pride of place must go to Waddington Reserves that went all last season without a victory, and had not won this season until last Saturday when they visited Hellifield Reserves, who themselves struggled to raise a team due to first team calls, having to sign players on the day of the match. It was day that everything went right for Waddington winning the game by 13-3. Leading 3-0 Hellifield pulled the game back to 3-2 and Waddington player/manager Nick Laxton thought "here we go again" however they led 6-2 at the break and injuries to Hellifield players did not help their cause going down to ten men before losing the goalkeeper with 20 minutes to go when a further five goals were scored. Steven Backhouse and 16-year-old Ryan McCarthy each scored hat-tricks.

George Saunders, a life member of both Craven Football League and Craven Football Association, passed away on Tuesday evening in Airedale Hospital. He was honoured with the Football Association Long Service Award in 2005 and his work in local football over many years cannot be quantified.